I will definitely miss Italy.
I stayed at the airport for another hour, talking and taking pictures with Mariam. She'd insisted on going with me, but I know how much she didn't mean it.
I got my emotions under control, and we'd spent the rest of our time together confessing how much she would miss me.
I would've stayed longer, but I needed to get to Washington, DC, before sunset.
"So that's how your life suddenly changed. Do you know anyone in America?"A wave of nerves crashed against my insides and drowned out the lingering melancholy from her question. I only knew that we once lived there when I was little, and that's all. I have never remembered living there. I dint have any memory of that place.
"No. I don't. My father said we moved to Italy after mom died," she nodded.
Tonight would be my first time seeing what another country looks like.
"You are here, Ava. Sorry to have kept you waiting," the man I met at the wedding said. He had a touch of Brad Pitt about him. His hair was Achilles-gold and coiffed to perfection. His eyes had the same startling clarity as a mountain stream, and the lineaments of his face were in perfect proportion to each other.
"No. I think I arrived an hour earlier." I stood up, ready to leave. Mariam hugged me more tightly, refusing to let go.
"I am just worried you won't be able to survive without me, but don't worry, you got this. I could be your emergency line anytime you need me. And keep me posted on Instagram." I tapped her back repeatedly, knowing exactly what she meant. She still will be the one to not comment on the reels I send to her.
I could have thanked her for being my friend and even start to shed tears, but I'm not the type that's clingy and shows too much emotion.
Growing up, I have learnt to hide my emotions and suck it all up. No matter how much it hurts.
We got to the first-class section of the plane it took us about thirty minutes to take off, 11hours 11minutes to arrived USA and another thirty minutes to land
That night, I was taken to a mansion, or should I call it a castle? It was located in the heart of the city and was about an hour drive from the airport. I thought we would take private Washington Dulles airport shuttle as it only takes around 40 minutes but someone came to pick us up with a black land Rover.
It was so much distance to escape if this whole thing was a scam. My stepmom has received her money, and ever since then she has never called to know if I am still breathing.
She could probably be selling me off, because it makes no sense that a man who's in a vegetative state for over a month should be given a wife.
The man I came with introduced himself as Ethan and introduced every other person living in the mansion to me
Before I could properly take in the mansion layout, Mrs.. Charlotte dragged me into the master bedroom.
My eyes drew to the man on the large bed. I walked in closely and watched his well-chiseled face.
"Gabriel Fernandez?"
"Have you met him before?" Mrs. Charlotte moved over to sit beside him on the bed as she raised her chin to look at me, expecting an answer.
"Yes, I have met him just once." I gave a dismissive wave of my hand anxiously, the opposite of what came out of my mouth.
"You must be tired after the travel, but I have to tell you things you need to know now." .
Gabriel's deep-set feature stood on his beautiful face. His skin was unusually pale from spending all those times inside. He was still looking so handsome, like those men in fiction books. I am sure that if he were not bedridden, I would never have married him.
"Before he was bedridden, Gabriel was a powerful figure in Italy, as you should know. Here in America, he doesn't have much except few hotels and buildings.
In Italy, he owns many businesses and firms." Mrs. Charlotte suddenly stopped and then whispered to my face, "He is the leader of a badass mafia group."
I jiggled my foot as I stiffened.
I closed my eyes tightly and shot them open almost immediately to ascertain that I wasn't dreaming or something. Stuff like this happens in novels and barely in movies. Could I have been trapped inside one of those dark romance stories I read?
Mrs. Charlotte uncrossed her legs and stood up from the bed. She walked towards me with her two hands behind her. "Master Gabriel was rumored to be ruthless and tyrannical; he has legal business and also deals with the underworld. Any one that crosses his line barely lives for twenty-four hours."
I held my breath. "He is not human."
She smiled and waved her hands at my face. "Don't be like that girl... He is perfectly human. And perfectly inhumane. Have you heard of monsters ever in your life?"
I nodded unconsciously.
She snapped her finger." Exactly, that's who he is. With him by your side, you don't have to fear anymore. Money, power—everything he has in abundance. He is just that one perfect man that would burn the world to save the one he loves. So you better get on his good side".
"Then those that mean I will have to put up with all this?" .
"Gosh, you are really smart, Ava. I am proud you are my sister-in-law..".
I was wondering how the mother could be so young and pretty; now it makes sense to me. She was the sister.
The door slightly opened, and Ethan poked his head inside. "Charlotte, excuse them."
She stood up that instant and left the room. I have never seen a sibling so respectful. My only sister, mercy would make me scream my lungs out for her before she would ever obey a simple instruction from me.
I was left alone with him in the room. My eyes widened in disbelief as I looked and saw Gabriel, who was lying down like a dead man a minute ago, slowly opening his eyes.
Under the illumination of the chandelier, his whiskey eyes were magnetic and dangerous.
Just like the first time we met, it was a gaze that sent chills down my spine. A wave of terror washed over me as I could not help but back away and rush over the stairs.
I rushed to where to his bed side. "Gabriel... Gabriel" I held his palms up with my both hands. "It's me, do you recognize me?"
They was no response just a cold ass gaze. My heart skipped.
"Mrs. Charlotte. Gabriel is awake" I called out. Maybe he doesn't just want to talk to me . I understand.
Ethan and Charlotte rushed in the same
"Master Gabriel is not awake yet. He opens his eyes often, but look," she said, waving her hands around his face. "He doesn't respond to gestures and doesn't even know what we are saying; probably he didn't even notice us."
Charlotte sighed, and her shoulders shrugged in disappointment. "The doctor said he had little chance of surviving considering the bullet that was shot at his head".
"He was shot?" I asked in surprise.
"19th November... Night"
Wasn't that exactly the day I met Gabriel?.
"Come with me, Charlotte". Ethan said, and they both left. It was obvious that Ethan didn't want me to know more than I should.
I sat near Gabriel and waved my hand across his face."What's on your mind, Gabriel? It appears that I was blaming you for no reason. I didn't know you were suffering so much as well. I guess you never saw the news or even got the email I sent. I hope you wake up soon enough".
He closed his eyes afterwards.
I couldn't hide the tears that had already formed in my eyes. Maybe he is like this because of me. It's possible, considering my life is messed up because of him. I could have unknowingly brought this on him.
I held his huge palm around mine and whispered to him
"Don't die, Gabriel.".